Compare Foods, an expanding international supermarket chain, has signed a lease for 46,469 s/f of retail space in Colonial Plaza on 115 Thomaston Ave. GVA represented the landlord, Starwood Ceruzzi. Compare Foods will occupy the former PathMark space. Other key co-tenants of the 200,000 s/f shopping center include MadRag, PCX Clothing, San Marino Restaurant, State Farm, Liberty Tax, Railroad Salvage, Dunkin Donuts, Dollar Dreams, and Wendy's.
The Waterbury location will be managed by the City Food Group founder and owner, Tony Pena, who currently manages the Norwalk location. "We have a tremendous amount of specialty items from South America, the Caribbean and Mexico," said vice president Maria Pena.
Inside Compare stores, samba and merengue music plays over the stereo system. Pinatas adorn the aisles. And a range of South American specialties are sold, including ox tail, goat shoulder, and guinea pig. Fruit varieties range from coconut, guayaba and papaya to mango, passion fruit and guava.
Stacy Libby, of GVA Williams was the sole broker in this transaction. Libby said, "Compare Foods is strategically expanding their stores into key Con­n. markets. Waterbury is a perfect location to attract a wide international market. Compare's product offering will help better provide to the needs of the Waterbury cus­tomer. The store will be a great addition to the property and will give the center a brilliant face lift. We are anticipating continued growth at the center following the opening of Compare Foods."